Erica Cerra Puts on the Classic Goddess Look for Percy Jackson

01.31.10 by REELZ

SHARE:

If you really want to be a goddess, persistence pays off. At least, that's what Erica Cerra found out in multiple auditions for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. Enthusiasm, flexibility, and a wry sense of humor turned out to be a big help as well, as she explains in an interview with Hero Complex.

Well, unfortunately, [Percy Jackson director] Chris Columbus was not banging down my door, and I had to go in and audition. I initially went in for Medusa and Persephone. Shocking that I didn't beat out Uma Thurman or Rosario Dawson, I know. But, he brought me back a couple of times and I auditioned for another character. Then I came back again for another character and ultimately got the part of Hera. Even before that, though, I ran out to the library and got all of the books. I love fantasy. If I could have, at the time when I was 12, been on Harry Potter, then I would have ... I was like, Percy Jackson and the Olympians! Cool!

Turns out all that research wasn't entirely in vain either. Responding to concerns that the movie might try to make the gods too contemporary, she acknowledges that filmmakers did alter the movie to make it more tempting for an older audience, but insists that they didn't mess with the goddesses too much.

I think they made a really good choice. I think you can see with Persephone in the trailer, he just goes sort of classic and beautiful. I think that they'll, well, I don't think, I know, but I just don't want to tell you too much! Some of the gods are a little bit edgier, but, at least for the goddesses, they're mostly classic.

And classic for Hera means that she is a bit of a mother figure, the mother figure actually, which perhaps isn't the best fit for Cerra, given her looks. But the actress says she took the part head on, attitudes and all.

Well, the story of Hera is that she is a bit of a prude. She is the goddess of marriage so she has a bit of a tough time with what goes on with the gods, their fraternization with the humans and having babies and such. Hera basically dislikes everyone, even her own husband and brother cause he's had a million affairs There is an element of bitterness towards her, and from her a bit towards Percy and Annabeth cause there's the possibility of something maybe happening between the two of them. She just feels that there should be a bit more loyalty.

Outside of the role though, Cerra is a bit more understanding about all the illicit goings-on.

These gods and goddesses hang out for a millennia or more, for thousands of years together ... they get bored.